Robotic Gynecological Surgery Performed for the First Time in Queens, N.Y.

New York Hospital Queens Surgeon Uses Da Vinci Robotic Surgery System® to Provide Women More Precise and Less Invasive Surgery

Flushing, N.Y., June 22, 2010– Seated comfortably at a console viewing a 3-D image of her patient, Kathy Huang, M.D., attending physician, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Hospital Queens (NYHQ), performed the first gynecological robotic surgery in Queens on a 37-year-old woman who had excessive uterine bleeding and an ovarian tumor.

The minimally invasive surgery was successful, the patient’s fertility was preserved and the woman was able to go home the same day. As a robotic surgery specialist, Dr. Huang has received advanced training in minimally invasive robotic surgery. Dr. Huang is the only gynecological surgeon in Queens offering robotic surgery to women.

Prior to coming to New York Hospital Queens, Dr. Huang has treated hundreds of women using robotic technology. Since New York Hospital Queens installed the robot in May, Dr. Huang has performed 10 cases—all with excellent outcomes.

“The success of these first robotic cases is a tribute to the experience and skill of Dr. Huang, and the planning and the preparation of her surgical team, said Gary Eglinton, M.D., Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Hospital Queens. “We are thrilled to be able to offer women in Queens robotic surgery which is the most high-tech, minimally invasive surgery available.”

The hospital is using the new third generation da Vinci Robotic Surgery Si System, the most advanced model available. It has been shown to provide superior clinical results when compared to non-robotic traditional and scope assisted procedures because it allows the surgeon a full three-dimensional high-resolution view during the surgery.

During robotic surgery, the operative images are enhanced, refined and optimized using image synchronizers, high intensity illuminators and camera control units during the course of the surgery. Dr. Huang sits at the console while her fingers grasp the master controls, translating hand, wrist and finger movements into exact, real-time movements of surgical instruments inside the patient. At the same time, state-of-the-art robotic and computer technologies scale, filter and seamlessly translate her hand movements into precise micro-movements of the da Vinci instruments.

“The steady movements of the robotic arms allow for the highly precise removal of diseased tissue,” said Dr. Huang. “Smaller incisions typically heal much faster, require fewer sutures and are less vulnerable to tearing or infection. All of these advantages mean a speedier and less worrisome recovery period for the patient.”

“Traditional open gynecologic surgery uses a large incision for access to the uterus and surrounding anatomy, “says Dr. Huang. Although it has been the standard approach to many gynecologic procedures, it can cause more pain, and a longer recovery process. Through tiny, 1 to 2 centimeter incisions, surgeons who use the da Vinci System are able to operate with greater precision and control which helps to minimize the pain and risk associated with large incisions while increasing the likelihood of a fast recovery and excellent clinical outcomes.”

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

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Note to Editors: Dr. Huang is available for interviews. She is a member of the American Association of Gynecological Lapraroscopists and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Huang has numerous clinical presentations and publications to her credit, including such journals as Fertility Sterility, the official journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. Dr. Huang is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese.